Families enjoy annual Family Fun Fair

Family and fun were celebrated in downtown Oberlin during the community’s 26th Annual Family Fun Fair.

Various local food, craft vendors and non-profit organizations lined the sidewalks of downtown Saturday near Tappan Square on North and South Main streets down to Vine Street.

Classic cars and many activities for the family and their youngsters decorated East College Street.

Games like bike races for little ones, a dunk tank and human hamster balls were all part of the event.

Families and children had smiles on their faces as they enjoyed the many services.

Guests also danced away in the hot sun while classic favorites were performed by band Summer of ‘65.

Janet Haar, executive director of Oberlin Business Partnership, which is also made of the Oberlin Chamber

of Commerce and Main Street, said the event has grown immensely since they first began.

Haar said events like the fair’s car show has always been a big part of the celebration; it grows more every year.

She added the event has improved so much with vendors and activities that the event grew from the streets and sidewalks to Tappan Park.

Inviting local vendors and non-profit organizations to the event are what their group aims for, Haar said.

All vendors and organizations have a fee have of including a kid-friendly activity to be part of the familyoriented event, she added.

“We want people to know what’s available to them and because it’s a Family Fun Fair, we want it to be fun,” she said. “We’re hoping people will come in and realize it’s an event that’s available for all.”

In Haar’s six years with the city, she said many more families are coming in because they believe they’ve expanded it to include so many things for everyone.

“It’s not just walking along the sidewalk, it’s, ‘Hey, I can actually do something,’” she said. “Part of our job is to get people to experience our town.”

Brittany Leader, 33, is a second grade teacher at Eastwood Elementary in Oberlin, who volunteered in the dunk tank.

Leader is very involved in Oberlin school and community events, but this was her first time at the family fair.

She said she not only enjoyed getting dunked by previous second grade students of hers, but being part of the event.

“Oberlin has a lot of events like this and that’s what I like about this town,” she said. “They know how to run it. It’s well organized and the people just come, walk around and enjoy themselves.”

BRIANA CONTRERAS — THE MORNING JOURNAL Ralph Potts, a volunteer at the Family Fun Fair, motivates youngsters in a tricycle race during the 26th annual event Saturday in downtown Oberlin.

BRIANA CONTRERAS — THE MORNING JOURNAL Ethan Krauss of Oberlin plays with his daughters – Zephie, 5, in a pink hamster ball, and Evana, 8, in the green ball – during the Family Fun Fair on Aug. 4 in downtown Oberlin.